Found a pocket book....216 years old!

[mojjax]

I found this "pocket book " in a large delapitated old desk in the abandoned house we have out back .
I checked the "lift" compartments last  year and pulled out some old sheet music and letters (many with stamps)  dating from the late 1800's . I was excited finding them and wisked them home to check them out further.
I've been pouring over the Cache Posts on t-net the past month to get insite on other places to search ........ I decided to give the old desk another looksie .... I somehow missed reaching way up in the compartment - when I did , I pulled out this old leather pocket book .

The name inside is  Aaron Blaney Jr(?)    Boston  Oct   1792

One of the front pockets contained a long letter dated 1805 . After removing the green flap , one of the inner pockets revealed what appears to be a Revolutionary War Ballad ! It is un-dated , un-signed , but quite interesting . Entitled  " A New Song "

       I'v been trying to transcribe it . Some of the words are hard to make-out . I put (?) ...after words I'm unsure of . Here are a few verses :


Why should vane mortals at the fight of death and destruction in the field of battle ,
Where blood and carnage clothe the ground with crimson,
                                            sounding with death groans.

Death , now I dare the clad in smokey pillars ,
bursting from the Bumelsheds(?)   roaring from the cannon , rattleing in grapeshot like storm of the castigations(?)

While the tyrants hearts palliate(?)  for havok
let slip your bloodhounds called the British Tyrants ,
Daintely as Death flies , nimble as the Wolverine ,
                                 Dreadful as Demons .

Last Verse:

Life for my Country and the cause of freedom
Is but a cheap prize for a worm(?)  to part with ,
And if precluded in to great a contest ,
                                    Life is Redoubled

[mojjax]

More Pictures :

[mojjax]

The desk -

[BuckleBoy]

Wow!  That is one HECK of a find!  I'd say that the "Song" is worth some serious cash--as a part of a set with the wallet and letter, as found.  Especially since it mentions "British Tyranny" and losing one's life for freedom...

Again, I say WOW.

I'm glad to help with any snags you have in the transcription...PM me and I'll send you my email for some high-definition photos of the documents you're working on.  I have some experience with transcribing CW letters, etc and am more than happy to help you if you need.


Wow.



-Buckleboy

[Old Dog]

Awesome stuff  !!
And that desk appears to be all there or close.
The missing pieces are around it on the floor or leaning against it.

If it is complete there is some serious $$ in a restored piece of early American Federal style furniture.
Look for a makers brand or signature in there.
If you find one it will add to the actual value of the piece.

Real Colonial furniture is almost worth it's weight in antique value.
and would be worth saving if possible.
Just for the history of it.

Thom

[mojjax]

Thanks buckleboy , is it OK to photo copy a document like this ? Here is a picture of the Fleur de Lis water mark . Kind of hard to get a pic til I held it up to a flashlight .

[Cynangyl]

Wow!!  The desk and the pocketbook would be incredible enough but the documents in it....just Wow!!  Thanks so much for sharing them with us! 

[BuckleBoy]

Thanks buckleboy , is it OK to photo copy a document like this ? Here is a picture of the Fleur de Lis water mark . Kind of hard to get a pic til I held it up to a flashlight .

I wouldn't photocopy or scan it... but a good quality digital photo in good natural light with no flash would probably work for me if you needed a hand.


-Buckles

[mojjax]

Thanks buckleboy , is it OK to photo copy a document like this ? Here is a picture of the Fleur de Lis water mark . Kind of hard to get a pic til I held it up to a flashlight .

I wouldn't photocopy or scan it... but a good quality digital photo in good natural light with no flash would probably work for me if you needed a hand.


-Buckles

Thanks , I may need your help , or any one elses , there ar alot of misspelled words , some words may not be in use anymore .

Thanks for your input on the desk Thom , It's another project - yikes !

here is a pic of the old place out back - I took it from our roof . ( that's Stormy , our horse )

[Copperhead]

Holey crap...that definitely is one heck of a find...absolutely amazing!

While the tyrants hearts palliate(?)  for havok

possibly palpitate?....

Palpitate
Verb
1. Beat rapidly, of the heart.

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

Date "palpitate" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1818. (references)
 
Note: Palpitate \Pal"pi*tate\, intransitive verb. [imperative past participle Palpitated; present participle verb or noun Palpitating.]. (Websters 1913

[AU Seeker]

mojjax,

  I will echo Old Dog's advice, I am a master carpenter and I restore antiques, it is hard to tell from the pictures of the desk how old it is, but if it is from the same time period of the pocket book, and depending on who crafted it it could be worth THOUSANDS!!!!!

  Even in the condition it is in now, find "ALL" the pieces and parts of it and hang on to them until you can ID it or have a GOOD antique person take a look at it, don't get your hopes up, but you never know until you know!!!!

  The pocket book and the "document" are great!!! and you need to get the "RIGHT" antique person to look at that, if there are some museums in your area, they would be a good place to start, to get a "value" on all of these items. , contact the curator and go from there.

  How long have you lived there?

  I would have been through that house the first day I saw it if I lived there, look around for 'hidden" caches, in walls, in the yard(metal detecting), old out houses  , sheds or where they may have been, old clothes lines are a good place for old coins.

 Do you have any idea how old the house is, where is this located generally?

  Also there may be other things of great value in the house, old fireplace mantles, doors, windows glass if it is old (wavy when you look thru), the list goes on and on, even some of the wood may be of value, all of the things should be removed (salvaged) by a expert carpenter, or handyman, that knows how to remove them with little or no damage to them, just a little damage to a "piece" that is perfect will greatly decease the value.


   Good Luck, and THANKS, for posting them, if you find any more goodies, PLEASE post them!!


                Skip

   

[stevesno]

That is one of the coolest finds that I have seen posted on T-net.....have you tried to do any research on the author of the song?...Steve

[Gypsy Heart]

Found this....
Aaron BLANEY Jr., Esqr. [Parents] was born about 1776. He died 31 Jul 1834. Aaron married Betsey DENNIS on 18 Dec 1803.

Betsey DENNIS was born Apr 1783. She died 16 Dec 1866. Betsey married Aaron BLANEY Jr., Esqr. on 18 Dec 1803.

They had the following children:

   M i Arnold BLANEY
   F ii Eunice BLANEY
   F iii Susan K. BLANEY was born Sep 1809. She died 11 Aug 1833.
   F iv Betsey BLANEY was born Jan 1813. She died 30 Apr 1832.
   M v Aaron BLANEY 3rd
   M vi DAVID D. BLANEY was born Dec 1817. He died 30 Jun 1837 and was buried 30 Jun 1837.
   M vii James M. BLANEY was born about 1819. He died 23 Oct 1847.
   M viii Henry BLANEY was born about 1825. He died 23 Jun 1828.


1793 - went to Damariscotta, Me. as clerk to cousin Oliver Gridley. Worked with several businesses, postmaster of Bristol 1806-1834, treasurer several yers, rep. to state legislature 1824-1827, justice of peace. Mass. Militia 1814. Large landowner, home built 1820, burned about 1876.

[Pepper2004]

Awesome find!!  Congrats!

[pjroo33]

This is one of the most interesting things I've seen posted in a long time.  If I were you, I'd go over every inch of that house with a fine tooth comb.  That song could be worth a small fortune.  How old is the house?  Congrats on an awesome find.  Amazing history right in your back yard!

[pjroo33]

By the way. I highly recommend this for the......

BANNER!

[RON (PA)]

That is one super duper awesome find. I would definitely submit it to W & ET for the best find of 2008. Congratulations. I would do more research on him and how his brief case ended up where you found it.

[birdman]

Banner!  One of the most amzing finds that I have seen on Tnet! Wow ,history coming to life!

[EdleBrock]

While the tyrants hearts palliate(?)  for havok
let slip your bloodhounds called the British Tyrants ,
Daintely as Death flies , nimble as the Wolverine ,
                                 Dreadful as Demons .

Has a Shakespear ring to it...

ANTONY:
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.

[Diggemall]

That is just flat-out incredible !

Without a doubt that home needs to be gone over with a fine-toothed comb "from stem to stern".  The old boy obviously had a penchant for stashing things in difficult to find locations - if a simple song was hidden (in 1792 it would not have been "treasonous" - no reason for him to have been insecure about its discovery) what else might lie waiting for you to discover ?

Diggem'

[mojjax]

Found this....
Aaron BLANEY Jr., Esqr. [Parents] was born about 1776. He died 31 Jul 1834. Aaron married Betsey DENNIS on 18 Dec 1803.

Betsey DENNIS was born Apr 1783. She died 16 Dec 1866. Betsey married Aaron BLANEY Jr., Esqr. on 18 Dec 1803.

They had the following children:

   M i Arnold BLANEY
   F ii Eunice BLANEY
   F iii Susan K. BLANEY was born Sep 1809. She died 11 Aug 1833.
   F iv Betsey BLANEY was born Jan 1813. She died 30 Apr 1832.
   M v Aaron BLANEY 3rd
   M vi DAVID D. BLANEY was born Dec 1817. He died 30 Jun 1837 and was buried 30 Jun 1837.
   M vii James M. BLANEY was born about 1819. He died 23 Oct 1847.
   M viii Henry BLANEY was born about 1825. He died 23 Jun 1828.


1793 - went to Damariscotta, Me. as clerk to cousin Oliver Gridley. Worked with several businesses, postmaster of Bristol 1806-1834, treasurer several yers, rep. to state legislature 1824-1827, justice of peace. Mass. Militia 1814. Large landowner, home built 1820, burned about 1876.

Thanks Gypsy , I'm going to go check out some grave yards in Bristol today .

[Gypsy Heart]

Found this......

THE AMERICAN HERO; A Sapphick Ode

  Made on the battle of Bunker-Hill, and the burning of Charlestown.

  By Nathaniel Niles, A.M., Norwich, Conn., October, 1775
  Music in Andrew Law, Select Tunes [1781],
     possibly by Sylvanus Ripley.   Missouri Harmony, p. 37
  MIDI: http://www.contemplator.com/america/bunker.mid

 Why should vain mortals tremble at the sight of
 Death and destruction in the field of battle,
 Where blood and carnage clothe the ground in crimson,
    Sounding with death-groans?

 Death will invade us by the means appointed,
 And we must all bow to the King of Terrors;
 Nor am I anxious, if I am prepared,
    What shape he comes in.

 Infinite goodness teaches us submission;
 Bids us be quiet under all his dealings:
 Never repining, but forever praising
    God our Creator.

 Well may we praise him--all his ways are perfect;
 Though a resplendence, infinitely glowing,
 Dazzles in glory on the sight of mortals
    Struck blind by lustre.

 Good is Jehovah in bestowing sunshine,
 Nor less his goodness in the storm and thunder,
 Mercies and judgments both proceed from kindness--
    Infinite kindness.

 O then exult, that God forever reigneth;
 Clouds, which around him hinder our perception,
 Bind us the stronger to exalt his name, and
    Shout louder praises.

 Then to the wisdom of my Lord and Master,
 I will commit all that I have or wish for;
 Sweetly as babes sleep will I give my life up
    When called to yield it.

 Now, Mars, I dare thee, clad in smoky pillars,
 Bursting from bombshells, roaring from the cannon,
 Rattling in grapeshot, like a storm of hailstones,
    Torturing aether.

 Up the bleak heavens led the spreading flames rise,
 Breaking like Aetna thro' the smoky columns.
 Low'ring like Egypt o'er the falling city,
    Wantonly burnt down.

 While all their hearts quick palpitate for havock,
 Let slip your bloodhounds, nam'd the British Lyons,
 Dauntless as death stares, nimble as the whirlwind,
    Dreadful as daemons.

 Let oceans waft on all your floating castles,
 Fraught with destruction, horrible to nature;
 Then with your sails fill'd by a storm of vengeance,
    Bear down to battle!

 From the dire caverns made by ghostly miners,
 Let the explosion, dreadful as volcanoes,
 Heave the broad town, with all its wealth and people,
    Quick to destruction.

 Still shall the banner of the King of Heaven
 Never advance where I'm afraid to follow;
 While that precedes me, with an open bosom,
    War, I defy thee!

 Fame and dear freedom lure me on to battle,
 While a fell despot, grimmer than a Death's-head,
 Stings me with serpents, fiercer than Medusa's,
    To the encounter.

 Life, for my country, and the cause of freedom,
 Is but a trifle for a worm to part with;
 And if preserved in so great a contest,
    Life is redoubled.

[Gypsy Heart]

Also see one by Andrew Law, 1776 or 1777 .....Did Aaron Blaney write the words....as we see his is dated and these people sing  it later....from what I understand this was a very popular song in the Revolutionary War......


Music here.......
http://www.macjams.com/song/11340

[mojjax]

Also see one by Andrew Law, 1776 or 1777 .....Did Aaron Blaney write the words....as we see his is dated and these people sing  it later....from what I understand this was a very popular song in the Revolutionary War......


Music here.......
http://www.macjams.com/song/11340

Wow that's great research Gypsy ! The document is unsigned , but the handwriting is similar to Aarons signiture on the purse . He probably copied it down from another source , and kept it with him ? Thank you very much!
  The 1805 letter that's with it is very long (tiny letters that are hard to read ) I'm trying to decipher it . 

[prospector40]

That is nothing less than an incredible find.  BIG CONGRATS on that one

[MD Dog]

Make sure you keep everything together as that will help establish what they call provenonce (Spelling).